Folding pedals for pneumatic musical instruments.



T. P. BROWN FOLDING PEDALS FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1913.

1, 1 03,480, Patented July 14, 1914.

Egg-1 A: e: :EL'QL 11- 19.15am W v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

THEODORE P. BROWN, 01? WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX PLAYER ACTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING PEDALS' FOR- PNEUMATIG MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Trmononn P. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county'of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Folding Pedals for Pneumatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a pedal construction in which the pedals can move back into the casing through the ordinary low standard opening, and at the same time to avoid folding them back between the bellows so that in the design of the instrument there will be no restriction as to the width of the elbows or pedals or their distance apart; :also to 'provide a construction of this character in which instead of doubling back and forth in the case the pedals will move up into the ease with a continuous motion and without making any sudden change in the direction of motion, whereby they will not have a tendency to deliver a blow to the rests on which they strike in the casing.

The invention also involves improvements in details of construction and combinations of parts as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bellows, pedals and some connected parts of a pneumatic musical instrument constructed in accordance with this invention, the casing being removed; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same showing the pedal in position for playing; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the pedals moved back within the casing.

In this case a pair of supports 10 at the bottom of the casing 9 are provided with bearings 11 for the ends of a shaft 12. This shaft has arms 13 connected at their ends by a cross member 14 on which are pivoted the bottoms of the pedals 15. Supports 16 are mounted below as is usual in this class of devices. These supports are held from turningby screw 17.

At the upper end each of the pedals is provided with a bracket 20 having a stud 21 thereon parallel with the shaft 12, and on this stud is pivoted the head of a hollow rod 22. Inside this hollow rod projects a second rod 23 pivoted at its inner end. to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1913.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Serial No. 756,077.

The operation is very simple. Referring to Fig. '2, it will be seen that the rod 23 extends in substantially to the end of the opening in the rod 22; consequently when the operator presses on the pedals, the force exerted is transmitted directly and without change of direction to the bottom of the movable leaf of the bellows and yet no springs, pivots, or other connection are requlred between the two rods 22 and 23.

-When it is desired to move the pedals back into the case they are simply turned directly back through the usual standard opening and then upwardly within the instrument. On the way in the outer edge of each pedal strikes the top of the run or guide 26. This cushions the blow, prevents the pedal folding down as is usually the case, and causes it to move up along the run or guide, without reversing its position, until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 3. Here the top of the pedal comes under the cleat 27, so as to be held from accidental displacement, and the bottom of the pedal engages the spring or guide again, thus cushioning the blow if the pedals are moved back with undue force. This action of course takes place without exerting any pressure on the movable leaf of the bellows or its spring, and the parts are turned over to such position that there is no force tending to swing the pedals out to the front. The member 14 is prevented from swinging back farther from the position shown in Fig. 8 by the back of the lower end of the pedal coming into contact with the screw 17 if the spring 26 does not keep it out of contact therewith.

It will be seen that by this construction, a number of joints usually employed are eliminated and consequently the expense of manufacture and assemblage, as well as repairs is reduced. Moreover, the pedals are left, when moved back in the instrument, in

a position from which they are adapted to fall down by gravity upon being turned forwardly a very slight distance and it is not necessary, under any conditions, to reach far into the instrument for the purpose of moving the pedals out. Moreover the pedals can be made wider than is now the case, and the bellows can also be made wider or spaced nearer together.

Although I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that the invention can be carried out in many other forms without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is 1. In a musical instrument, the combination of a pedal, a swinging support for the bottom thereof, a bellows, and two rods connected with the movable leaf of the bellows and with the pedal respectively, one rod being hollow and the other extending freely into the hollow rod and to the end thereof when the pedal is in operative position, whereby the pedal can be swung up Without exerting any force on the bellows.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination of a pedal, a swinging support for the bottom thereof, a hollow rod pivoted to the upper end of said pedal, a bellows, and a rod pivoted to the movable leaf of the bellows and extendin freely and loosely into said hollow rod or transmitting motion from the pedal to the bellows.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of a pedal, a swinging support for the bottom thereof, a bellows behind the pedal connected with the upper end thereof, and a resilient yielding guide on the front of said bellows for receiving the top of the pedal when swung rearwardly on said support.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a pedal, a swinging support for the bottom thereof, a bellows behind the pedal connected with the upper end thereof, a guide on the front of said bellows for receiving the top of the pedal when swung rearwardly on said support, and guidin the end of the pedal upwardly along the front bellows, and a cleat on the bellows for holding the end of the pedal.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE P. BROWN.

WVitnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, J. ELMER HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patento, Washington. D. O." 

